Cheapflights Asks Users Around the World: What Will Airlines Charge for Next?

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - January 14, 2010) - Last year was the end of a free ride for most travelers looking to check bags, enjoy in-flight meals and book flights with an agent. Now, with baggage fees back in the news, passengers are once again wondering what they'll pay for next. Cheapflights, the international flight price search and comparison website, recently decided to find out and asked its web visitors across the globe what they think airlines will charge for next.

"From oversized luggage to oversized flyers, the debate about when, where and how to charge travelers is non stop," said Meredith Hanrahan, Chief Marketing Officer for Cheapflights. "It's a topic in every market in the world, which is why we decided to have a little fun and throw out the question of what's next to our global base. The results show that, while the world is a diverse place, perhaps flying is a fairly universal experience."

The question was asked in seven different markets -- Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Australia, Canada and the U.S. Most respondents, more than 40% overall, thought that carriers would charge for using the toilet. It made the top of the list for all countries except Italy, where being charged for talking to the crew and sleeping ranked higher.

Number two on the list, with 11% overall, was that airlines would charge for membership to the "Mile High Club." This was a particularly popular response in Canada and the US with almost 20% from Canadian respondents and 14% from the US. The response from romantically inclined Europeans to paying for this naughty act, varied widely. Just 4% of Spanish and Italians and one per cent of French chose this answer, suggesting that Europeans consider this a right, rather than a privilege, on board flights.

Next to make the list was looking out the window where 9% believed they would be charged for this privilege followed by 8% believing they would have to pay to recline their chairs. Additional responses included speaking with cabin crew, sleeping, sick bags, oxygen, life jackets and using the emergency exit.

About Cheapflights US

Cheapflights.com is the best place to find cheap flight deals and up-to-date travel information. As a leading U.S. travel search engine, the site publishes one of the largest selections of airfare deals available online from a huge range of flight providers. Every day, travelers can search more than one million flight deals from both traditional and low-cost airlines, as well as smaller specialty-travel providers, plus handpicked deals and flight offers exclusive to Cheapflights.com. The Flight & Travel Info section and Flight News blog are packed with more than 1,000 destination travel guides, travel tips, and the latest news and information, to help flyers enjoy the best possible travel experience, every time they fly. Sign up for the Cheapflights.com weekly newsletter, which contains deals customized to travelers' specific preferences, and follow Cheapflights on Twitter at Cheapflightscom.

Contact Information: Contact Information: Erin Mullaney Cheapflights.com Phone: 617-830-2933